Richardson claims first place among second-tier candidates

[bigtree]

February 28, 2007

The Hill

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said yesterday that he is “alone” on the second tier of Democratic presidential candidates, claiming a solid lead over his closest rivals — Sens. Joseph Biden (Del.) and Chris Dodd (Conn.).

“We’ve moved into a solid fourth,” Richardson told reporters.

Speaking at the Latino Leaders Luncheon Series, Richardson told the crowd he had moved from registering 1 percent in polls up to 8 percent since getting in the race in late January, putting him in fourth place in the contest, behind Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and ex-Sen. John Edwards (N.C.).

“You know I’ve got to move up a lot more,” Richardson joked.

After the event, Richardson told reporters he “can feel it in my bones” as he travels the country that despite polling, voters are mostly undecided.

The most recent major polls released do show Richardson in fourth place, with both Zogby and the Cook Political Report showing him with 5 percent support.

During his brief speech, Richardson spoke, at times in Spanish, about his upbringing as the child of a Mexican mother and an American dad. He joked about the times Hispanic political leaders advised him to use his middle name, Lopez, when he ran, “but it didn’t fit on a bumper sticker.”

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/022807/richardson.html

[babylonsister]

1. For you, bigtree:

I just talked to my sister in CA, and she and her friend were talking up Richardson. They both like him - a lot!

To be continued...:hi:

[bigtree]

7. sweet!

you made my night :hi:

[skipos]

2. He is the most likely to go from the 2nd tier to the 1st

imo. He is the only 2nd tier candidate who is leading in his own home state. Last I saw, he was beating HRC and Obama in NM by bigger margins than Edwards was in NC.

[Larry Allen]

23. Beauty of the Dark Horse

The main stream media will have no problem reducing the top tier to two if Edwards stumbles, or increasing it to four if Al Gore enters the race. Richardson looks to be the most famous dark horse there ever was before he breaks though. Richardson has all the appearence of being comfortable with his position. But in fact he is putting out more energy than the rest of the field put together.

[iamjoy]

3. How They Will Smear Him

the Republicans will try to smear him, saying his mother was illegal.

I wouldn't put it past them.

[bigtree]

13. how that will draw support from America's fastest growing demographic

[SaveElmer]

4. I think he will overtake Edwards by early next year...

He is the real dark horse in this race...

[Adelante]

6. I agree

He's the one to watch.

[smalll]

5. Well, it's good for him, but I don't think he should be saying it -

it sounds vaguely Liebermanesque somehow. Richardsomentum!

[bigtree]

8. if you hear it its presented as a half-joking kind of boast

I mean, really . . . first place in second tier? Fourth place is fourth place. But, I think he wanted to highlight the fact that he seems to be gaining somewhat in the polls.

[Colobo]

9. Richardson will be our next VP

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. Mirror image!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3138188

[LittleClarkie]

10. What a weird thing to celebrate

We're number 4! We're number 4!

[Greeby]

11. How bout a 3-way tie for third place?

:evilgrin:

[bigtree]

12. as if he was celebrating

he's making a self-effacing joke. That's his style, to be self-effacing.

[Adelante]

14. I thought it was sweet, bigtree

But I always think of Richardson as a charmer.

[LittleClarkie]

15. If that man is ever gonna be president

he needs to learn to use SMILIES!

(I keed, I keed)

Okay, gotcha.

[bklyncowgirl]

16. Richardson's the natural choice for people who don't like Clinton but want an experienced candiate.

He's positioned very nicely. If any of the front runners falter he'll be in position. He will probably get more favorable attention once the debates start.

If I had to vote today with only the declared candidates to choose from he'd be my choice (Sorry Bill, I know it's the kiss of death). Obama could still win me over however if he continues to show the right mix of vision and fight. If Gore gets in it's all over. I'm a Gore fan through and through.

[wyldwolf]

17. Recommended! He's been slowly inching up in the polls

[pampango]

18. Has he had anything to say recently about Sudan's reneging

on the promises it made to him after his negotiations with them earlier this month?

[bigtree]

19. The 60-day cease-fire brokered by Bill Richardson needs peacekeepers on the ground to enforce it

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir rejected any U.N. troops as colonialists and insists that the existing AU force, with U.N. technical support, can maintain order and was voted out of his position as head of the African union. Now it's up to his replacement, President of Ghana, John Kufour, to get the peacekeepers on the ground.

Richardson had called on Omar al-Bashir to relent before he was voted out:

"I believe that President Bashir has in last three months responded somewhat but needs to do considerably more," Richardson told reporters after briefing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "There's got to be somebody constantly on the ground, pushing to get both sides to together, to talk to the rebels."

"Arab nations, which have not put pressure on Sudan, as well as China, which buys most of Sudan's oil, "must play an important role," Richardson said.

"I think continuous dialogue and negotiation and pressure will move in the right direction," he said. (Feb.7)

http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=15379

[SteppingRazor]

20. I'd say that's pretty safe to say...

I think Richardson has an outside chance, but Dodd and Biden have more or less none. Hell, I'd go so far as to say that Richardson is competition for the 3rd place slot at this point — watch your back, John!

[Larry Allen]

21. Bill Richardson leads the race in Latino Governors running for President.

Time is running out for the other contenders to establish their Latino Governor credentials. (Not to mention diplomatic and cabinet level expeience.)

[hughee99]

24. But is he a REAL Latino?

I'm just kidding, but I couldn't help it after all the Obama not being "black" hubbub.

[Larry Allen]

25. Perhaps not

But his mother is playing the part very well. When he told her he was running for president, she responded “El presidente de que?”